The hit restaurant AngloThai, newly adorned with a Michelin star, is collaborating with burger group Shake Shack for a snazzy one-off.
AngloThai chef-founder John Chantarasak has created a burger calling on Thai flavours, mirroring some of the techniques he uses at his Marylebone restaurant.
The burger is to be made with a beef patty fried in red curry paste, topped with ox tongue-glazed in scallop roe, with smoked chilli jam, wild garlic and green olive purée, and som tam infused pickles, in a potato bun brushed with spiced honey butter.
On the side will be Shake Shack’s crinkle cut fries as “laab”, topped with fermented yellow soybean mayonnaise and wild garlic sweet chilli relish.
“As a long-time admirer of Shake Shack, I'm thrilled to be creating my very own burger and fries that showcase the bold flavours and ingredients we like to cook with on our menus at AngloThai,” said Chantarasak.
“I'm a big fan of the mustard-fried burger technique seen in America and wanted to take inspiration from this by frying beef fat red curry paste into the burger patty as it sizzles on the plancha, giving a rich and warming flavour to the meat.
“I'm also grilling slices of beef tongue and glazing them in a Thai-style chilli jam made from roasted chillies and smoked scallop roes, giving the burger deep umami and celebrating a lesser used, but very delicious cut of beef.”
Shake Shack launched in the UK to much fanfare in 2013, a US import known for its smashburgers, potato buns and use of big onions and sliced tomatoes.
The brand has collaborated with numerous chefs in the past, but never as high-profile as Chantarasak, who launched AngloThai with wife and sommelier Desiree late last year after operating as a pop-up for many years. As well as its star, it was also named the best new opening by Restaurant magazine only last month.
Jim Frisch, culinary director for Shake Shack, said: “We’ve long admired what John and his wife, Desiree, have strived to achieve with AngloThai, so we couldn’t be more excited to be working with John in showcasing his delicious, innovative flavour combinations to our UK fans.”
The limited-time burger and fries will be available for one day at Shake Shack Covent Garden on Friday 11th July from 12PM until sold out. Net proceeds go towards London food charity, Grow. Shake Shack Covent Garden, 24, Market Building, The Piazza, WC2E 8RD, shakeshack.co.uk
